La Liga Preview: Real Betis - Racing Santander

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Nelson, Aurelio, Numancia-Betis (Marca)

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Real Betis are expected to turn the corner with each new season and before the current campaign, many were predicting that the club could at last push for a top-ten finish rather than spend another year struggling to stay up.

Since qualifying for the Champions League on the last day of the 2004-05 campagin, pipping their city rivals Sevilla, the Verdiblancos' fortunes have plummeted, and they have not come close to repeatig that glorious achievement.

While Sevilla have gone on to silverware and regular European football, Betis have been left to worry about remaining in the top flight and to consider how and where it all went wrong.

Many have speculated, and some have pointed fingers at people to explain the downfall - and maybe, although the locals are saying it quietly, things are slowly moving in the right direction at last.

Three wins and two draws should make enouraging reading this season, but instead it is the five defeats in the opening ten games that have caused the problems as the club have had to come back from a poor start.

Coach Paco Chaparro is an experienced campaigner and he is under no illusions as to the task facing him and the players, but he is not one to panic, and believes that the long-awaited corner-turning can start this weekend.

But in recent weeks things have begun to look up as five wins in their last matches, including victory in both legs of the Copa del Rey against Castellón, have lifted spirits again.

Rosy Outlook

Defeat by Deportivo at home was one game that reminded Betis that there is still a lot of improvement to be made, but wins at Osasuna and Numancia have shown that they do have what it takes to compete.

After losing at home on the opening day against Recreativo, Betis then faced four extremely tough matches as they held Sevilla at home before being beaten by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal.

Discounting the games against four clubs all expected to push for the title, things are not going too badly, and another win this weekend could well see the whole situation suddenly look a lot rosier.

Racing had the opposite happen to them last term as expectations of a struggle turned into an incredible year that culminated in qualification for the UEFA Cup.

That came at a price as coach Marcelino took his chance supposedly  to step up a level in terms of club, but actually took a step down as he chose to take over at second-tier Real Zaragoza.

A difficult campaign was once again thought to be on the cards with Europe a distraction, but that has not been the case and Juan Ramón López Muñiz has kept everyone's heads held high.

A top-ten finish may have been seen as a one-off, but the Cantabrian outfit are actually in tenth place going into this game, though with only one more point than their opponents.

FORM GUIDE

Real Betis

12/11 H 2-0 Castellón
09/11 A 4-2 Numancia
02/11 H 0-3 Deportivo
29/10 A 2-0 Castellón
25/10 A 2-0 Osasuna
19/10 H 3-0 Real Mallorca

Racing Santander

12/11 H 1-0 Benidorm
08/11 H 6-0 Real Valladolid
04/11 H 1-1 Basel
01/11 A 4-1 Málaga
28/10 A 1-0 Benidorm
25/10 H 5-0 Almeria

TEAM NEWS

Real Betis

Sergio García returns to the squad after serving a suspension, but Mark González, Edu and Xisco are all still out of action. The rest of the team is unlikely to be unchanged with Mehmet Aurelio and Emana partnering each other in the centre of midfield.

Probable Starting XI: Casto, Nélson, Vega, Arzu, Juanito, Aurelio, Capi, Damiá, Emana, Sergio García, Pavone

Squad: Casto, Ricardo, Juanito, Sergio García, Capi, Rivera, Nelson, Melli, Juanma, Damiá, Monzón, Emana, José Mari, Fernando Vega, Arzu, Pavone, Mehmet Aurelio, Juande.

Racing Santander

Muñiz has less things to consider than Chaparro as his injury list is minimal with Peter Luccin the main absentee from the encounter. The coach has not chosen Ezequiel Garay to travel so César Navas and Marcano will play together at the back for the visitors.

Probable Starting XI: Toño, Pinillos, Sepsi, Marcano, Navas, Serrano, Lacen, Colsa, Pereira, Munitis, Tchité

Squad: Toño, Coltorti, Pinillos, César Navas, Marcano, Oriol, Moratón, Mehdi Lacen, Colsa, Sepsi, Edu Bedia, Serrano, Juan Valera, Canales, Jonathan Pereira, Munitis, Tchité, Juanjo.

 PREDICTION

Betis' counter-attacking system makes it difficult for them in home games when opponents tend to use the same tactics, but Chaparro is predicted to change things around this weekend and Racing could find themselves facing a stern test.

Real Betis 3 - 1 Racing Santander

Lucas Brown, Goal.com